A building worker had a surprise at work on a new housing estate at Walney in October 1990

Ian Buckingham discovered a specimen of Britain’s largest moth, the rare death’s-head hawk moth.

Ian, of Westminster Avenue, Walney, gave the moth to a young friend, Chris Siddall, and that night Chris discovered something else the moth made a loud squeak when alarmed.

Chris’ mum, Julie, said: “We wondered what the noise was above the sound of the stereo.”

Chris, 11, of Orion Terrace, Walney, said: “When I saw it, I got a bit of a shock. I didn’t think there was a moth that big.”

Chris had since released the harmless two and a half inches-long moth.

In 1993 a swarm of honey bees took over Vickerstown Institute bowling green but the doughty players never let it stop their game.

The bees, complete with the queen, swarmed around one end of the green for an hour before settling to rest on one of the bushes.

But bowlers, all set for an afternoon match, completely ignored them.

Greenkeeper Dennis Clements lit a fire in a dustbin which he placed near the bees to make them more docile.

And the Walney club committee member Jimmy Johnson rang The Mail to ask the advice of nature writer Arthur Evans.

“They arrived just after dinner,” said Mr Clements.

“I filled a bin with smoke to get rid of them, but there was no way we were going to stop the match.

“It’s the first time it has ever happened here.”

Mr Johnson, who had had experience with bees before, said the swarm was perfectly docile because the queen was in the centre.

The Mail’s Arthur advised the institute to get in touch with Barrow police, who kept a list of beekeepers in the area who could handle a swarm safely.

“All they need to do is to get the queen inside a straw skip, a kind of basket, and then they are no more trouble,” said Mr Evans.

“But you need an expert to deal with them.”